1,470 research outputs found

    Analysis of three-component aeromagnetic data

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    The numerical method of obtaining three field components from total field measurements, using double Fourier series expansion, is presented. The expressions for moments of the anomalous field components over a finite area are given. The magnitude and direction of the magnetization vector indicate that the vertical component of the magnetic field calculated from total field observations is more accurate at higher geomagnetic latitudes than at lower latitudes. The opposite is true for the horizontal components. The error in determining the magnetization vector directions are significantly large over most of the range of variation of declination and inclination of the vector, demonstrating the practical limitations of computing field components from total field data even under the best of conditions

    Effect of high amylose maize starches on colonic fermentation and apoptotic response to DNA-damage in the colon of rats

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We investigated in rats the effects of feeding different forms of high amylose maize starches (HAMS) rich in resistant starch (RS) to understand what the implications of RS heterogeneity might be for colonic biology, including innate cellular responses to DNA-damage.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A range of maize starches were compared: digestible cornstarch (Control), HYLON<sup>® </sup>VII, Hi-maize<sup>® </sup>1043, Hi-maize<sup>® </sup>240, Hi-maize<sup>® </sup>260 and NOVELOSE<sup>® </sup>330. Included in the comparison was Cellulose. End-points after 4 weeks included: pH, short chain fatty acids (SCFA) levels, colonic epithelial cell kinetics and apoptotic response to carcinogen 'azoxymethane' in the colonic epithelium.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The RS diets significantly increased SCFA and reduced pH in caecal content and faeces. Hi-maize 260 resulted in the highest butyrate concentrations. All RS diets prevented the mucosal atrophy as seen in the rats fed the Control diet. Epithelial cell turnover was increased in the Control and Cellulose groups compared to the Hi-maize 260, HYLON VII and NOVELOSE 330 groups (P < 0.01). The apoptotic response to azoxymethane was higher only in the Hi-maize 260 group compared to the Control group (P < 0.01). Butyrate correlated positively with the apoptotic response (P < 0.01).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The consumption of RS elicits a range of beneficial physiological and protective effects associated with the fermentation of RS. Increased production of butyrate seems a likely explanation by which RS enhances the apoptotic response to carcinogen-induced DNA damage which is consistent with the proposed role of this SCFA in promoting a normal cell phenotype and preventing the development of abnormal cell populations.</p

    Reproductive Health Disparities: Pap Knowledge and Screening Rates among Asian Pacific Islander College Women

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    A Papanicolaou test is the most effective procedure for detecting cervical cancer. Unfortunately, many young Asian Pacific Islander (API) college women are unaware of this procedure and do not take precaution against cervical cancer. This paper reports disaggregated data on Pap knowledge and screening rates of female students at a four-year university and suggests recommendations to healthcare providers to improve Pap screening rates. Using a communitybased participatory research (CBPR) approach, a cross-sectional study was administered using a web-based anonymous survey (N=618). The survey results indicated that participants who were least likely to know about Pap tests were 18-21 years old, API, uninsured, and not in a committed relationship. Slightly more than half (52%) of API females received a screening compared to 82.4% of white females. The most influential people for Pap screening were doctors (43%) and the least influential people were mothers (18.8%) and friends (7.8%). This study expands the literature on Pap knowledge and screenings among API college students and provides culturally appropriate recommendations to improve screening rates

    Effect of Sparse-Build Internal Structure on Performance of Fused Deposition Modeling Tools under Pressure

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    Two different approaches to design a sparse-build tool for fabrication by the fused deposition modeling (FDM) process are compared. One approach uses a 2D lattice structure and the other approach is inspired by topology optimization. Ultem 9085 is used as the material, and the amount of material used to build the tool is kept constant to ensure a fair comparison. A solid tool is also included in the comparison. The performance of the tool under uniform pressure is simulated using finite element analysis (FEA) and the accuracy of the FEA results is verified by comparing them with experimentally measured data for a similar tool. The build material, support material, build time, maximum displacement, and maximum von Mises stress are compared for the three build approaches, with an emphasis on the pros and cons of each sparsebuild tool with regards to performance under uniform pressure and fabrication by FDM

    Low field hysteresis in disordered ferromagnets

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    We analyze low field hysteresis close to the demagnetized state in disordered ferromagnets using the zero temperature random-field Ising model. We solve the demagnetization process exactly in one dimension and derive the Rayleigh law of hysteresis. The initial susceptibility a and the hysteretic coefficient b display a peak as a function of the disorder width. This behavior is confirmed by numerical simulations d=2,3 showing that in limit of weak disorder demagnetization is not possible and the Rayleigh law is not defined. These results are in agreement with experimental observations on nanocrystalline magnetic materials.Comment: Extended version, 18 pages, 5 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev.

    A constrained Potts antiferromagnet model with an interface representation

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    We define a four-state Potts model ensemble on the square lattice, with the constraints that neighboring spins must have different values, and that no plaquette may contain all four states. The spin configurations may be mapped into those of a 2-dimensional interface in a 2+5 dimensional space. If this interface is in a Gaussian rough phase (as is the case for most other models with such a mapping), then the spin correlations are critical and their exponents can be related to the stiffness governing the interface fluctuations. Results of our Monte Carlo simulations show height fluctuations with an anomalous dependence on wavevector, intermediate between the behaviors expected in a rough phase and in a smooth phase; we argue that the smooth phase (which would imply long-range spin order) is the best interpretation.Comment: 61 pages, LaTeX. Submitted to J. Phys.

    Dynamics of Metal Centers Monitored by Nuclear Inelastic Scattering

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    Nuclear inelastic scattering of synchrotron radiation has been used now since 10 years as a tool for vibrational spectroscopy. This method has turned out especially useful in case of large molecules that contain a M\"ossbauer active metal center. Recent applications to iron-sulfur proteins, to iron(II) spin crossover complexes and to tin-DNA complexes are discussed. Special emphasis is given to the combination of nuclear inelastic scattering and density functional calculations

    Spin states of the first four holes in a silicon nanowire quantum dot

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    We report measurements on a silicon nanowire quantum dot with a clarity that allows for a complete understanding of the spin states of the first four holes. First, we show control of the hole number down to one. Detailed measurements at perpendicular magnetic fields reveal the Zeeman splitting of a single hole in silicon. We are able to determine the ground-state spin configuration for one to four holes occupying the quantum dot and find a spin filling with alternating spin-down and spin-up holes, which is confirmed by magnetospectroscopy up to 9T. Additionally, a so far inexplicable feature in single-charge quantum dots in many materials systems is analyzed in detail. We observe excitations of the zero-hole ground-state energy of the quantum dot, which cannot correspond to electronic or Zeeman states. We show that the most likely explanation is acoustic phonon emission to a cavity between the two contacts to the nanowire.Comment: 24 pages, 8 figures, both including supporting informatio

    Determination of early summer pasture conditions to optimize forage and calf productivity and profitability

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    Forages can be valuable elements in a sustainable production system. The date when animals are first allowed to graze on pastures can impact the quality and amount of forages available. This study explored various factors that influence successful grazing

    Ipl1/aurora kinase suppresses S-CDK-driven spindle formation during prophase I to ensure chromosome integrity during meiosis

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    Cells coordinate spindle formation with DNA repair and morphological modifications to chromosomes prior to their segregation to prevent cell division with damaged chromosomes. Here we uncover a novel and unexpected role for Aurora kinase in preventing the formation of spindles by Clb5-CDK (S-CDK) during meiotic prophase I and when the DDR is active in budding yeast. This is critical since S-CDK is essential for replication during premeiotic S-phase as well as double-strand break induction that facilitates meiotic recombination and, ultimately, chromosome segregation. Furthermore, we find that depletion of Cdc5 polo kinase activity delays spindle formation in DDR-arrested cells and that ectopic expression of Cdc5 in prophase I enhances spindle formation, when Ipl1 is depleted. Our findings establish a new paradigm for Aurora kinase function in both negative and positive regulation of spindle dynamics
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